Why This Chinese Boyband Member Getting Caught Smoking Is Breaking Hearts

If you're a smoker and you think you have it tough with all the new no-smoking rules here, imagine you're a super famous teen idol. Because as soon as you light up, so do the paps and their cameras. Just ask Roy Wang, member of one of China's biggest boybands, TFBoys.

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Caught red-handed (Photo: Sohu Entertainment)

Never mind that the boy’s only 18. The singer, um, lit the Chinese Internet up after photos of him getting ciggy with it in a Japanese restaurant in Beijing (smoking indoors is illegal in China, we must add) went viral two days ago (May 21).
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Rebel with a cause? (Photo: Sohu Entertainment)

He was reportedly having a meal with Chinese actor Jia Nailiang and fellow teen idol Yang Chaoyue when he was caught puffing on a cigarette inside the restaurant. According to the Beijing Health Supervision Authority, "smoking is prohibited in public places, indoor workplaces and on public transportation”. It has also been said that Roy will be "punished according to law". Yikes.
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Roy addressing the crowd at the United Nations Youth Forum

The supposedly squeaky-clean idol was almost immediately bashed by Chinese netizens, not because he was revealed to be a smoker but because Roy is often featured as the face of many government campaigns that revolve around being socially responsible and a non-smoker. He has also participated in the UN Youth Forum twice as China’s youth rep.
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TFBoys, also known as The Fighting Boys, consists of Roy, Karry Wang, and Jackson Yee

Netizens have also commented that Roy looks like a seasoned smoker from the manner in which he holds his cigarette, leading to more criticism that the star had picked up the habit way before he turned 18. They also expressed their worries that young and impressionable fans of the immensely popular TFBoys might think that smoking is cool after seeing their idol do it.
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Mr Popular

However, one comment summed up the teen idol conundrum best: “Actually, smoking is quite normal. But firstly, as a very powerful teen idol, you must avoid it. All your fans are young and easily influenced. Secondly, it is not legal to smoke indoors. It is forbidden by the law, and do you think you should break those [regulations] as a celebrity?”
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"I'm so sorry!"

In light of the incident, Roy took to his Weibo to post an apology, writing: “I’m so sorry! This issue has made me reflect on my actions and its negative social impact. I feel sorry and ashamed for setting the wrong example. I assume all responsibility and will accept all punishment. As a public figure, I will pay more attention to my words and actions in the future. I hope that no one follows in my footsteps. I apologise again, and will take this as a lesson to become a better person.”.

Goes to show that when you're a teen idol, getting your vices exposed is no puffing matter.